Potter County Court Records
Potter County court records cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in this Texas Panhandle county anchored by the city of Amarillo. The District Clerk and County Clerk both maintain public records at the courthouse in Amarillo, the county seat. With about 120,000 residents, Potter County is one of the larger counties in the Panhandle. Amarillo itself straddles both Potter and neighboring Randall counties, so cases may be filed in either county depending on the specific address involved.
Potter County Overview
Potter County District Clerk
The Potter County District Clerk manages all felony criminal cases, civil suits above the county court threshold, and family law matters in Amarillo and the surrounding area. Four district courts serve Potter County: the 47th, 108th, 251st, and 320th District Courts. All sessions are held at the Potter County Courthouse in Amarillo. The District Clerk's office issues certified copies and maintains records going back many decades. Because Amarillo straddles both Potter and Randall counties, it is important to know which county a specific address falls in before searching for a case. Most of downtown Amarillo and the northern parts of the city are in Potter County. The southern portions of Amarillo tend to fall in Randall County. If you are not sure which county a case was filed in, check both county clerk systems or use the statewide re:SearchTX portal to search across both at once.
The Potter County District Clerk has a dedicated portal for case searches. Visit the official Potter County District Clerk search tool at newtools.cira.state.tx.us to look up Amarillo and Potter County district court cases. The screenshot below shows the official Potter County District Clerk portal. Access the system at newtools.cira.state.tx.us to search Potter County district court records including criminal, civil, and family cases in Amarillo. The Potter County District Clerk portal provides direct access to district court case records for Amarillo and the surrounding area. The main courthouse is at 501 S. Fillmore Street, Amarillo, TX 79101. Phone: (806) 379-2300. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Parking is available near the courthouse in downtown Amarillo.
| Office | Potter County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 501 S. Fillmore Street, Amarillo, TX 79101 |
| Phone | (806) 379-2300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Online Search | District Clerk Case Search |
Potter County Clerk
The Potter County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal cases, probate filings, and official public records including deeds, liens, assumed names, and marriage licenses. The County Clerk also maintains Commissioner Court minutes and election records. For property records in the Amarillo area, the Potter County Clerk is one of two offices you may need to check. The other is the Randall County Clerk in Canyon, since Amarillo spans both counties. County Clerk phone: (806) 379-2275. The office is at the Potter County Courthouse, 501 S. Fillmore Street in Amarillo. Many county clerk documents are searchable through TexasFile at texasfile.com. The statewide re:SearchTX portal at research.txcourts.gov is also useful for cross-county searches covering both Potter and Randall.
The screenshot below shows the TexasFile portal for Potter County clerk records. Visit TexasFile to search Potter County property and clerk filings. TexasFile provides free access to Potter County official records including deed filings and other clerk documents from Amarillo.
Types of Potter County Court Records
Potter County court records fall into several main types. The District Clerk handles felony criminal cases, civil suits above the threshold, and all family law matters. The County Clerk handles lower-level criminal cases and probate. Justice of the Peace courts handle small claims, Class C misdemeanors, and evictions. County Courts at Law handle civil cases up to the dollar limit and lower-level criminal matters. Criminal records in Potter County include charge documents, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation terms. Civil records cover petitions, answers, motions, and judgments. Family law files include divorce petitions, property division orders, custody agreements, and support orders. Probate records include wills, estate inventories, guardian appointments, and estate closings. Most records are public under Texas Supreme Court Rule 12. Exceptions include juvenile records, adoption files, expunged cases, and records sealed by court order. If a case has been expunged, it will not appear in online searches. Call the clerk before visiting if you need to confirm what is available for a specific matter. Potter County is in the Northern District of Texas for federal court purposes. Federal cases in the Amarillo area go through the Amarillo division of the Northern District federal courts, which is located in the Potter County Courthouse complex.
How to Search Potter County Court Records
The Potter County District Clerk has a direct case search portal at newtools.cira.state.tx.us. This is the best starting point for district court cases in Amarillo and Potter County. Enter a party name or case number to see case details, docket entries, and document information. For broader searches across e-filed Texas courts, use re:SearchTX at research.txcourts.gov. Enter a name or case number and filter by Potter County. This free state system is useful when you are not sure which county a case was filed in and want to check both Potter and Randall at the same time. For county clerk records like deeds and liens, use TexasFile at texasfile.com. The free service indexes property filings and official documents. Filter by document type and date range to narrow results.
To get copies in person, go to 501 S. Fillmore Street in downtown Amarillo. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Mail requests are accepted. Call (806) 379-2300 to confirm fees and availability before sending a written request.
State and Local Legal Resources
The Texas Judicial Branch at txcourts.gov provides court rules, forms, and a directory of all Texas courts. The eFileTexas portal at efiletexas.gov handles electronic filing for Potter County civil and family cases. New filings are indexed in re:SearchTX. The Texas State Law Library at sll.texas.gov has free legal research tools online. For legal help in the Amarillo area, the Panhandle Legal Services organization serves residents with limited income. The State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com has a lawyer referral service. Remember that Amarillo cases may be in either Potter or Randall County. Check the Randall County page if you do not find the record you need in Potter County.
Potter County Court Records Online Portal
The Potter County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at potter.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Potter County without making a trip to the courthouse in 47th, 108th, 251st, 320th. You can search by party name or cause number and get back case type, filing date, party names, and docket history at no cost. The system covers all records maintained by the District Clerk, including felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law filings. For records that predate the online system or that require actual document images, you will need to contact the clerk's office in 47th, 108th, 251st, 320th directly.
Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 47th, 108th, 251st, 320th. If the case you need does not appear in the local portal, try the statewide re:SearchTX system, which covers all 254 Texas counties and is maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch. For certified copies, plain copies, or documents not available online, contact the Potter County District Clerk's office in 47th, 108th, 251st, 320th. Bring a photo ID and the cause number if you have it. Mail requests are also accepted if you include a check or money order for the estimated copy fee along with the case details.
Cities in Potter County
Potter County is anchored by the city of Amarillo, which spans both Potter and Randall counties. Cases for Amarillo addresses may be in either county depending on location.
Other communities in Potter County include Tascosa. Most of the Amarillo metro area straddles both Potter and Randall counties. See also Randall County for the southern portions of Amarillo.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Potter County. Each has its own clerk and courthouse.